Last year I tried to grow lots of cucumbers, with an eye towards making pickles (I was in my canning phase). Unfortunately, most of the plants succumbed to a viral disease carried by the aptly named “cucumber beetle” — basically, the disease causes their sap to thicken, they wilt completely overnight, and are dead in a day or two. Disheartening . . . although I did get maybe 20 cucumbers off 15 plants.

This year I planted the seeds I had left over, and got three plants (I think Sumter, but I misplaced the labels) and planted them under a half-dead bush, hope against hope. Cucumbers like to climb, and they did!

I should have paid better attention, but it was early, so I was surprised to find this, a bit past its prime but still lovely:

I made a dressing with miso, mayo, and cider vinegar:

It’s possibly the only “garden” thing I’ll get this year, since I didn’t plant the usual (tomatoes, peppers, etc.).

A little sprinkling of sesame seeds. Yum!

-R